Posts Tagged ‘Stargate SG1’

Actor, Brian J Smith has been leading a prominent career as an American actor,having just finished his first prominent role as the character of Lieutenant Matthew Scott on Syfy’s Stargate Universe for the show’s two seasons.The actor also recently featured on Syfy’s recent movie, Red Faction Origins, which is based on the actual video game franchise as the character of Jake Mason.This particular movie took place after the events of Guerrilla and before the events of the upcoming Armageddon game.

With SGU having concluded its run just a couple of months ago and Smith being kind enough to participate in an interview with us,we discuss the actor’s experience in portraying the character of Matthew Scott,his frank perspective on the factors which resulted in SGU’s cancellation as well as Smith’s thoughts on the suitability of Gauntlet as a series finale to SGU.The actor also reflects on the development of his young Lieutenant Scott and the slightly different hopes which he had for the extent of his character’s development.

Smith also discusses how working on the show influenced his acting career as well as his professional life,reflects on some of his favourite moments working on SGU, and his final message to fans,with the show having drawn to a close.

The actor also reflects on his experience working on Red Factions Origins and contrasts the experience of working on the Red Faction franchise to the Stargate franchise.

Abbas Karimjee:Were you a fan of Science fiction prior to being appointed the role of Lt Scott and how familiar were you with the Stargate franchise,in particular?

Brian J Smith:Wasn’t a huge fan of science fiction,just dabbled when I was a kid.And I think I had heard about Stargate before but I hadn’t watched any full episodes.But I’d say Sci-Fi is my favourite genre to work in,right now.Kitchen sinks are pretty boring after running from aliens for two years.AK:How did you relate to the character of Lt Scott?

BJS:He was new at what he was doing and so was I.I think we also both felt that we had something to prove.

AK:What was the most challenging aspect of playing Scott and how did you cope with this challenge?

BJS:One of the biggest challenges was the post-lunch sugar coma.They fed us very well on that set,and I learned to pace myself during Season 2.Every day there were these massive cakes,it was crazy.

AK: Science fiction fans have been known for their passion for genre entertainment.What initial concerns did you have from this and how would you describe your overall interaction with the fandom.

BJS:I didn’t have any concerns about it initially because I had no idea what I was getting myself into.Ignorance is bliss,I guess.That being said I enjoyed most of the interactions I had with Stargate fans particularly those who embraced SGU and were supportive of us from the beginning.I think SGU fans felt very protective of the show,like they had to stand up for it and they even stood up for us,which is no easy feat when some dude dressed as a Gauold or Wraith or whatever is waving a staff at you and telling you that you have terrible taste.

AK:Back in December,Syfy announced that SGU’S second season would be its last.What was your reaction when you discovered that the series had been cancelled and in your view,what were some of the primary reasons for which SGU was unable to attract the audience needed for the series to continue?What was your perspective on the decision of the producers to have SGU take the Stargate franchise in a new direction,with a strong emphasis on character relationships and how do you think this affected the presence of long time Stargate fans?

BJS: Well, I was really sad,of course,but Brad Wright and the rest of the producers seemed pretty confident that we’d be back,and they worked their tails off for months to make it happen.But good intentions and hard work don’t always add up to dollars, and in the end money walks.And actually I think we did have a pretty sizable audience and I think we did do a good job of grabbing them.It’s too bad that not enough of them owned Neilson boxes.SGU fans are always asking what they can do to keep science fiction shows like this alive.My advice would be to sign up for the Neilson program.I would also suggest buying DVD’s but we all know how expensive those damn things are,and I sure wouldn’t buy a DVD set when I can watch the whole thing pretty much for free on Netflix or even on youtube.And I’m sure some people were upset that SGU took the franchise in a new direction, but those of us involved were excited by the challenge and ultimately found it very fulfilling to work on the material we were getting.And when I look back on episodes like Time,Human,Twin Destinies,Common Descent I feel that we did work to do be proud of.Different strokes for different folks.

AK:Throughout the second season,Lt Scott was forced to face various unique challenges in terms of his relationship with Chloe who was dealing the effects of her encounter with the aliens,having to deal with Colonel Young’s poor leadership as well as maintaining a relationship with his son on Earth.

What are your thoughts on the suitability of the character’s development over the course of the show?How satisfied were you with this development and had SGU continued,which character dynamics would you have liked to see explored and how would you have liked for his function to have evolved?

BJS:I just wanted Scott to have a more defined and inclusive role in what happened in the story,and I actually think most of the cast felt that way about their own characters at some point.It’s not about screen-time or stuff like that,but I think we could have explored the unique talents of the crew and really put those talents to use so that if something happened to someone, their death wouldn’t just have sentimental value but would actually be crippling to the mission.I’m not saying he should save the day every time,but I always wondered what his critical contribution was and I think fans did too.I remember once at a convention or something some guy came up and was like,“I don’t think you’re a bad actor, but I don’t get Scott.He doesn’t do anything useful.”I can’t say I disagree.I don’t think emotional impact is enough. They really did a bang up job handling the death of Riley and making his death and the way he died important in the unraveling of Colonel Young.I always had the uneasy feeling that if Scott died,sure the crew would be sad for a few episodes, but ultimately there wasn’t anything that he was doing that fifteen other people couldn’t do just as well, if not better.It wouldn’t have affected the course of the mission.And yeah, looking back on it,I’d consider that to be a problem.But I was confident going into Season 3 that this would start to shift, but as you know we nevergot to explore it further.I honestly thought the show went out with a whimper,and it’s a shame because there was so much left undone.

AK:What are your thoughts on the SGU’S series finale, Gauntlet? How well of an ending do you think it served for SGU and the Stargate franchise,in general?

BJS:Like I’ve said before -it worked as a brilliant season finale,probably one of the best season finales you’re likely to see.But it’s probably the most insulting series finale in the history of science fiction,especially to our fans who had invested in this journey and deserved a better ending than putting the crew to sleep and stranding Destiny in space forever.Nobody is to blame,it’s just the way the cards fell.Well,a lot of people are going after SyFy,but SyFy is a business and not an artist sanctuary.They work for Diet Coke and Downy, and when Neilson tells Ronald MacDonald that not enough people are watching his new fish filet commercial in between acts of SGU he’s going to take his business elsewhere.That’s the way it’s always been,unless you’re HBO.But I can understand now why some fans and even networks are continually wary about getting involved in long-arc storytelling in science fiction because those stories rarely get finished.I know the guys had an ending planned out.We just didn’t make it to the finish line.

AK:Brad Wright recently reported at a Vancouver convention that SGU would not return for the planned TV movie,which would wrap up the storyline.

What was your reactionwhen you discovered this and why do you think the movie was not approved?Are there any additional details which you knew about the movie,which you would be able to share?Had the film been approved, what kind of conclusion would you hope would be in store for the crew of destiny and for Scott ?

BJS:I wasn’t surprised when I heard the news.It had been months since we wrapped the TV show,and the further away you get from the wrap date the less your chances are of going further.But we all immediately started emailing and calling each other,trying to find some closure. I wasn’t privy to the specifics as to why the bottom fell out. I would have loved to see where the background radiation story was going.I thought it was a promising idea because it brought up a lot of questions regarding science and religion,big questions, and that’s the kind of science fiction that really turns me on. I didn’t have any specific hopes for Scott.I think the writers knew where they were taking him eventually and I just enjoyed the ride.

AK: Reflecting on your experience on SGU, what were some of your favourite moments working on the show,either onscreen or off-screen?

BJS: Location shoots.Getting up early in the morning and driving with my coffee and my dog out to some beautiful place near a mountain or a river and doing a good day’s work out in nature.The stuff we did in New Mexico was the most fun I’ve ever had,and I get pretty nostalgic thinking about it now.It seems like it was forever ago and I miss that sense of going on a field trip with your closest friends and doing what you love to do.

AK:How has SGU affected both your career as well as your personal life,in terms of living in Vancouver and the friendships you formed?

BJS:Lots of memories,way too many.Maybe I should write a book.That’s what I’ll walk away with most,all those little moments in between set-ups,during lunch,traveling somewhere.

We had way too much fun,and man those two years went by way too fast.Maybe that’s the best thing I learned from the show-don’t take these kinds of experiences for granted, because they are rare and they are over in the blink of an eye.One day someone is cutting your hair for free or playing a prank on you or asking if you’re gonna eat the rest of your fries (that was usually Jamil), and the next day you’re schlepping around town going from audition to audition in the pouring rain. But hey, that’s the life I signed up for, and you’re always chasing after those kind of moments. That’s why you do it. You just can’t let it break your heart.

AK:Stargate Universe took the franchise in a bold,notable focus on character relationships and the ongoing issue of survival.In retrospect,how do you think the show and the character of Scott,in particular will be remembered as?

BJS: I don’t know.It’ll be different for everyone.I hope people look back on it as a high-quality, well-shot,well-written,well-acted show that had the balls to take itself seriously.Cute and quirky and light is very mode right now and that seems to be the way to create a hit, but I ultimately, in the long run, respect shows that don’t go for the easy laugh or the cheap effect.I think time will be kind to SGU.

AK:With Stargate having drawn to a close,what message would you like to covey to fans?

BJS:Just heartfelt thanks.You guys are troupers.

AK:You starred as the character of Jake on Syfy’s Red Faction Origin aired on Syfy last month.Could you please describe how the role of Jake was different from your previous roles,such as that of Lt Scott?Also,in terms of production, how would you compare working on a TV show of an established franchise,such as Stargate to working on a movie,such as Red Factions,which is also a part of a great franchise?Which do you prefer?

BJS: Well, SGU had the disadvantage of fan expectation.The only expectation regarding Red Faction was that it would suck.So people were actually surprised that some thought went into Red Faction and that we tried to tell a good story and not just blow stuff up.That being said,Stargate had lots of financial heft behind it, and I guess that’s the benefit of coming out of an established franchise.But Red Faction was an experiment and we shot that film on a very tight budget.Michael Nankin is the single best director I’ve ever worked with,and watching him create what he created with very little resources was a real lesson in directing.Directing is easy when you get unlimited takes,months of prep time,millions of dollars for special effects.Spielberg would have had a nervous breakdown.Michael Bay would have cried.The challenges he had to overcome were unbelievable.There was a medic on set who gave him the Bulgarian equivalent of Thera-Flu when he was getting a cold and he was actually fighting to stay awake all day.He somehow got through it, but that should give you some idea of what he was up against.And he also approached the story in an emotional way every single day,he was fully invested,which really isn’t easy to do when the set is falling apart and one of your actors is so ill that they can’t work and you’re running on five hours of sleep and the set medic has basically drugged you.He’s a real-life bad-ass.He taught me that who you choose to be when you’re faced with the impossible defines you.AK:What upcoming projects are you working on which you would like to share with viewers?

BJS:I’m enjoying a much-needed break right now.It’s been a crazy couple of years,so I’m taking this time to get back in touch and get inspired again.Time to re-fill the well and find out who I am as a guy,not just an actor

Indeed we are greatly disappointed to have to report that Stargate Universe has been cancelled by Syfy . The series, which is currently in its second season, will air the last ten episodes in its second half this spring, before drawing to a premature end.

The news of the abrupt cancellation was first posted on Twitter today, where Syfy’s Craig Engler indicated that “Syfy will end its original action-adventure series Stargate Universe when the show returns with the final 10 episodes of its second season in the Spring of 2011,” Engler said. “The Stargate franchise — consisting of Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe — has aired on Syfy since 2002.

Stargate Universe was to be different from its sister series, Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis in that it was to be more of a character based drama, which although would maintain the long term elements of adventure and humour, would also develop a more darker grittier tone. The series initially received a great deal of negative fan reception as the inception of the series was announced in simultaneous reports to the cancellation of the previous, Stargate Atlantis, causing many fans to be misinterpret the news reports to suggest that Stargate Universe was an intended replacement of this previous incarnation.

Although the series debut received strong ratings, with over 2 million viewers, by end of the inaugural season, the series was merely attracting 1.5 million viewers. In an effort to regain viewership,SyFy made a decision to move the Friday night series to Tuesdays, a night where programs tend to typically attract more live viewers . However, this effort has proven to have gone in vein as the first half of the current second season merely averaged 1.1 million viewers. It should, however be noted that the series scores significantly higher ratings in DVR viewings, suggesting that there is still a strong fanbase for the series. Possible reasons for the great number of delayed viewings include the great competition present from other network series on Tuesday nights.

There has been no news as to the possibility of a fourth Stargate series nor has there been any news on the developments of a SGU movie, to follow the series finale Deliverance, which will air in June 2011 as a cliff-hanger.

To make matters worse, various cast members of the series have reported that they found out about the news from their fans on Twitter and received no prior notice of the cancellation.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire cast and crew of Stargate Universe for their efforts into this series. Indeed, we embraced the new direction of Stargate, which you had helped create and were looking forward to having the series further develop in its exciting direction.We shall remember both the characters and storylines , which the series established and had the potential to further explore, for years to come.Thank you for a spectacular two years and best wishes for the future are extended to all those involved in the series.

What is your reaction to the series’ cancellation?What are your thoughts on the future of the Stargate franchise?

UPDATE- Producer, Joseph Mallozzi indicated on his blog, that there still may be a minimal extent of hope , for a third season of Stargate Universe. Though he maintained that such an outcome was unlikely, he did assert that it was possible, saying the following.

“Well, the SyFy cancellation makes it very long odds that we’ll be producing a third season next year. BUT IS THIS THE END? Damn you’re persistent. The honest answer is: I don’t know. No, that’s not entirely true. The truth is I do know some – but only enough to say it doesn’t look good and it’s very log odds we’ll be producing a third season next year – yet still only enough to say I can’t say this is definitely the end. At least for now”.

Further developments on alternative approaches to producing the third season, will be posted on this blog as soon as they are available.

A new Stargate movie is expected to be ready for release by December 2008, however the final release date is strongly up to MGM Studios.Although not a lot of information has revealed about the film, it has been noted that the movie is a stand alone version of the pilot episode of Stargate SG1, Children of the Gods.The film is expected to have less nudity, a more modern and developed story script and higher visual effects.According to Stargate creator/producer,Robert C Cooper, the executive staff members have realized that they could have done a better job on the pilot.The movie will be seven minutes shorter than the original version which is currently available on DVD and occasionally shown on a variety of channels on a international basis, including The Science Fiction Channel and the Space Channel

Update:The film was released on July 21 2009 for residents of the USA and Canada while UKresidents were able to purchase the film on July 27 2009.Australian residents were able to purchase the film as of August 4 2009.The cost of the film is $26.98[USA].The feature will also contain an audio commentary from Stargate co creator, Robert C Cooper and Stargate SG1 star of the feature, Richard Dean Anderson[Jack O'Neill] A bonus featurette classified as”Children of the Gods: Back to the Beginning” has been added as a special feature.The revised version has been dedicated to actor Don S Davis[General Hammond] who passed away during the end of June 2008 after suffering a serious heart attack.Take a look at the cover art of the film directly below and be sure to purchase your copy today!

Cover art for the box set of the revised version of the Stargate SG1 pilot, Stargate SG1 Children of the Gods Final Cut

In honour of the release of Stargate SG1 Children of the Gods Final Cut, the Stargate studio has released a portion of the special feature, Back to the Beginning .Be sure to take a look at the portion directly below and purchase your copy of the feature today!

Indeed the Stargate franchise is approaching its new era and with drastic changes to its face, we feel that its time to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future.

ITS TIME TO LOOK BACK AT THE PAST TO UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE

With Stargate Atlantis’cancellation announced by Science Fiction Channel on August 22 2008, many fans of the show were outraged.Many have expressed frustration with respects to their viewpoint which is that Team Atlantis was left in isolation for the new upcoming Stargate series,Stargate Universe.While others believe that ratings were a factor.Staff of the Atlantis production indicated that they had expected to the program to complete its anticipated six year run as per the contracts.Indeed , it is our interpretation that Stargate Atlantis was cancelled for a reinvention of the franchise to being viewers new exciting sorts of stories.This need was based on the lower ratings which were scored during the final half of the show.While ratings were generally lower during the second half of the show,the fifth season scored considerably better than the final half of third and the entire fourth season.Stargate Atlantis was also awarded with the People”s Choice Award for its fourth season.Indeed the show still entertained it viewers and therefore it was unanimously agreeed that Stargate Atlantis will continue nthe form of movies .A two hour stand alone direct to DVD movie will be set for release in spring 2010.The film will first appear on Sci Fi Channel for USA residents before being released into a DVD format.The reasoning behind Atlantis’ cancellation was to transfer the series to a more exciting movie format[with better graphics] now than in a few years when the demand and ratings for the show further declines.

We look forward to joining team Atlantis in more of their exciting adventures and keeping them alive in our lives for hopefully years to come.Although movies will not fully replace the enjoyment of a weekly 45 ,minute episode, we are appreciative for this opportunity.

Meanwhile Stargate productions is preparing for its next series, Stargate Universe.Universe stares Robert Carlyle as David Rush.The show will be geared towards a slightly younger audience that of its two sister series, Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis.This new target is apart of the initiative to reinvent Stargate to provide new forms of entertaintment while still maintaining the continuity of adventure and humour which have made Stargate what it is.In order to establish this initiative the setting of this new exciting series will take place on an ancient ship destiny where a new group of explorers accidentally end up.The actors are also slightly younger than that of the previous series .Being trapped on the ship with no wayhome they must all work together to survive.All ofthese new characters are indeed un experienced and thus we can expect some amusing moments.Stargate Universe is expected to be more story arc based with a central focus on character relationships.Sci Fi mythology will also play a much less important role in Universe than in its previous series.Universe will be designed to welcome both long time Stargate Fans back to the screens while also attracting a large new audience community to the table.

Fan reaction to this new series as briefly outlined further above has been generally negative.Many fans have assumed that the series will be more of teenage soap opera .However, creators of the show Brad Wright and Robert C Cooper, who also sered as creators for the previous two series have assured the online fan community that this is not the case.There has also been concern with regards to the maintenance of the intellectuality which Stargate brings to its fanbase.Indeed fans have no desire to let a younger audience dominate the intellectual complexity of Stargate.Certain fans have communicated that their frustration is with respects t0 what they believe is a replacement of series-from Atlantis to Universe!

We shall have to wait and see the show on October 2 2009 when its first episode, Air Part 1 debuts on the Sci Fi Channel.

Meanwhile a third Stargate SG1 film is being scripted .The film was recently approved by MGM and is for a spring 2010 release.It is expected to be Jack O’Neil centric.Michael Shanks[Daniel Jackson],[Amanda Tapping][Samantha Carter] and of course Richard Dean Anderson have all confirmed their involvememt in the film.Actor Christopher Jude[Tealc] has not yet issued any official statement on his involvement in the film, however based on previous general indications his involvementis expected.Although the involvement of Beau Bridges and Ben Browder is unknown for the film, we have received acknowledgement that Claudia Black will not appear in the film as Vala Maldurin.Black’s future in subsequent SG1 movies has not been communicated, however we are taking a moment to wish best of luck to the address as she continues to move forward in her career.The writer of the film is none ther than SG1′s creater and executive producer, Brad Wright.Indeed this film was only possible because of the success of the previous two SG1 films, Stargate Ark of Truth and Stargate Continuum.

The much anticipated Stargate Worlds video game where Stargate gamers could partake in missions previously practiced by teams including SG1 faced financial trouble last December.It seems that the Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment studious was suffering through severe financial difficulties which resulted in lack of employee payment.Further developments have not been provided since December and we are consequemtly assuming that the video game will berelased later this year as scheduled.Lets keep our hopes up!

Please note that frequent visits to this site are encouraged as additional news/information is posted on a regular basis.Pieces of information on this site are kept for the period in which they are relevant.

Indeed a brand new series with new characters, a brand new ship, and the arrival new problems appear as the Stargate franchise dials up for its third series:StargateUniverse. This post will act as a resource of current news with regards to casting, scheduling, storylines/arcs, discussion , general theme and discussion opportunities for Stargate Universe.

StargateUniverse follows the adventures of a brand new inexperienced team who accidentally finds themselves trapped on an ancient ship called the Destiny after a routine reconnsicance mission goes wrong.It should be noted that the team becomes trapped shortly after the ninth chevron of the Stargate is unlocked.The massive Destiny was launched by the Ancients millions of years prior to the creation of the city Atlantis which was explored in the previous Stargate series, Stargate Atlantis. The Destiny was being used by the Ancients as a tool to assist them in their ongoing efforts to locate Stargates over various galaxies.This effort , however, was abandoned when they revised their goals towards achieving ascension.There is indeed no means for the crew to return to Earth as by boarding the ship they have made the ship automatically continue the journey over the various galaxies which the Ancients had started.None of the crew members are able to determine the route of the ship.Further challenges arise when the team members are unable to control the amount of time which the ship spends in each of the stargates which the ship comes into range of.Also, as the ship is on a set route, any member who is left behind cannot be rescued , adding to the overall drama of the difficulty of spending time on planets encounter civilizations and obtain resources for the survival of the crew.

Targeted towards a younger age demographic than that of its sister series Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe will focus more on the character dynamics ,relationships and a crew of unprepared individuals being trapped on the ship.The program is a younger and edgier version of Stargate.The idea of the ship being physically located in space unlike the previous Stargate series was incorporated in order to ensure that younger audiences will consider the show to be appealing.The program is still expected to maintain fundamental aspects of Stargate such as humor and adventure which have made Stargate a success .Although, the premise of StargateUniverse will be firmly associated with the mythology of the previous two Stargate series, the program will generally have a more minimal involvement of the Ancients and other aspects of Stargate mythology. StargateUniverse will also be less about encounter with alien species and more to do with the team’s ability to survive on the ship. Indeed the producers described the series as a darker and more intense form of Stargate and consequently the series will be more drama based than its predecessors.Lead actor, Robert Carlyle who will be playing the mysterious and questioned leader, Dr.Nicholas Rush has illustrated the drama of the new series by indicating that there are three deaths on the Destiny within the crew’s first three hours of being on board.A suicide is also committed by sixthepisode because of the desperation of being stranded with no hope of return.Furthermore, Creators of StargateUniverse , Brad Wright and Robert Cooper who were executive producers of Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis intend on allowing StargateUniverse to act as more of a stand alone series in which new viewers can join the franchise withminimal background knowledge with regards to the Stargate franchise.Stargate Universe is also expected to be more arc based than the previous Stargate series.Consulting producer of the program and former executive producer of Stargate Atlantis, Joseph Mallozzihas indicated that while the program does have its fair share of stand alone episodes , most of the episodes will be apart of the large story arc. In fact a large portion of the first part of season 1 provides viewers with a continuous string of episodes which follow the first story arc of the show.

Stargate Universe debuted as a 2 hour movie on October 2 2009 at 9:00pm eastern standard time on the Science Fiction Channel.

Main Cast

Robert Carlyle will be taking on the lead role of the show as Dr.Nicholas Rush.Rush may or may not be the leader of the expedition .It has been noted that Rush seems to have different goals to that of the rest of the crew which is trapped aboard the Destiny.Keep scrolling below for further information with respect to Colonel Everett Young who may also be the leader.

David Bluehas been casted as Ellie Wallace.Wallace is described as a slacker who despite all flaws is still extremely intelligent and capable of performing well especially in areas of Math and computers.The actor is of 30 years of age and previously worked on ABC’s hit show, Ugly Betty.Blue is welcomed to the Stargate franchise.

Justin Louis has been casted as Colonel Everett Young.Young was formerly the leader of a temporary off world base.It should also be noted that Young also has a wife, Hailey,The two have been married for a duration of two years.This 41 year old Ontario raised actor has also appeared in Star Trek;Voyager.

Sargent Greer is a tempered individual and many aspects of his life are generally unknown.It is apparent, though, that his past has played a role in his urgent attitude .Jamil Walker Smith will be playing this role.Smith also played a part in the popular Nickelodeon series, Hey Arnold.

Brian J Smith has also been casted into the Universe regulars as Lieutenant Matthew Scott.Scott will be forced to undergo significant ordeals bothinapersonal and professional level as he prematurely assumes a greater leadership responsibility in the team.Smith was born in Allen, Texas and studied at the PlannardSchool in Texas .Smith has guest starred in various other programs including Hate Crime and Law&Order.

Actress Aliana Huffmanhas been casted for the character of Tamara Johansen.Huffman is 28 years of age and married.Huffman was also born in Vancouver meaning that she is essentially returning home for the production.Huffman has made appearances in various shows including NCIS, CSI: Miami, and CSI: NY.Tamara is described as a tough yet modest individual who had a desire to pursue studies at medical school yet was unable to do so as a result of financial limitations. She therefore enrolled in the Air force and received paramedic training only and is overwhelmed with medical treatment required in the ship.

47 year old Lou Diamond Phillips will playing the character of Colonel Telfordwho has served his life in the military and the leader of the expedition.It is currently unknown if Phillips will be a main cast member, reoccurring , or just a guest star.Phillpshas appeared in 24 , Law and Order:Special Victims Unit and The TwilightZone .Phillips is wished best of luck in his future with Stargate.

Actress Elyse Levesque has been casted as Chloe Armstrong.Armstrong is a civilian who is the daughter of the American senator.Armstrong’s character has been characterized as an individual who has high political and social standards.Her morals undergo tribulations as she accidentally ends up in the wrong pond which causes her to end up trapped in the Destiny.Levesque has played roles on various other Science Fiction series including Smallville and 2030 Ce.Levesque is welcomed to the Stargate franchise.

45 year old actress Ming Na takes takes on the role of IOA[International Oversight Advisory] employee, Camille Wray.Wray is taken to the the Destiny against her will causing her to be extremely furious and she therefore becomes motivated to express her opinion the command decisions made on board. Wray is also a homosexual and viewers will see her partner back on earth, Sharon in flashback format in the ninth episode, Life . Na was born on an island close to the city of Hong Kong.She has played a role on the NBC drama series, ER where she appeared in 118 episodes.The actress also appeared in the recent Science Fiction film, Push.

Additional News

The Movie Network on Demand has indicated their position on broadcasting Stargate Universe.Currently the Canadian network is only aware that Stargate Universe is in production and a decision has not yet been made to air the show. It should be noted that the Movie Network on Demand aired all five seasons of Stargate Atlantis in first run format.Canadian residents will, however, be able to watch Stargate Universe on The Space Channel.The program airs every 10:00pm eastern standard time .This an hour later than the 9:00pm eastern time in which the Science Fiction Channel will be airing the program for residents of the USA.Space Channel has also communicated that shortly after each weekly episode has completed its debut on television, it will appear online at http://watch.spacecast.com/ where viewers can view an episode for a period of one week after its debut on television. Enjoy the show!

Meanwhile Sky One has purchased broadcasting rights for Stargate Universe.The network has unconditional rights for the first season including applying on video on demand and available for downloading on their website.The UK network previously aired Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis in first run format.UK viewers were able to watch the debut on October 6 2009 and weekly episodes will continue to air every Tuesday[see precise schedule information further below in the SGU International Schedule Table]

As communicated further above, Stargate Universe will have homosexual characters.The character of Camille Wray who is played by Ming Na is indeed a homosexual and as previously suggested, Camille’s lifetime parter, Sharon will be seen in the ninth episode, Life. There is also at least one other gay character in the program. Further details on exactly which other character is a homosexual has not yet been disclosed. Co creator, Brad Wright indicated that the decision to include homosexuals in the program was in order to create issues and differences in terms of character relationships and to connect with more groups of people including homosexuals. Cooper indicated that widening the range of audience was not only done for the sake of ratings, but also to provide an accurate and realistic depiction of the current state of humanity .Consulting producer of Stargate Universe and former executive producer of Stargate Atlantis,Joseph Mallozzi indicated that Stargate Atlantis had a couple of homosexual characters. Captain Alica Vega who was played by actress Leela Savasta, was also homosexual, according to Mallozzi.Vega was introduced to viewers in the season 5 premiere , Search and Rescue. Mallozzi also indicated that Atlantis had a male gay character , however viewers never had the chance to find out who exactly this was.While, the series did have the presence of homosexual characters, unlike Stargate Universe , these Atlantis characters were not involved in situations which gave them the opportunity to reveal their difference.

Co producers of StargateUniverse, Brad Wright and Robert C Cooper have provided further details on the developing series .The producers conveyed that Stargate Universe will have aliens .Unlike the aliens of the previous two series, these species will be quite distinguishable from human appearance, characteristic and behavior.Stargate Universe will also have more stories told on earth as characters will have the opportunity to utilize and ancient device known as a long range communicator to talk to family members . This will allow for characters to relate/recall their past and for stories to be told on Earth in flashback format. Viewers will therefore see the lifestyles of various characters before they became trapped on the ancient ship of Destiny .StargateUniverse will also be less staged and more like a documentary and reality according to Cooper.This has been done in order for the audience to embrace the science fiction elements and characters.The producers anticipate that the documentary shooting style will allow for the adventures to seem less staged and thus more realistic so viewers feel as if they are joining the characters in their journey on the ship.By having this feeling, the producers anticipate that viewers can further their connection with the characters in a way that could perhaps not have been done in the previous Stargateseries.Cooper indicated that this concept is quite similar to the production methods used in the science fiction series Firefly, which both co producers greatly enjoy.

Consulting producer of Stargate Universe and former executive producer of Stargate Atlantis and Stargate SG1 , Joseph Mallozzi is now having Stargate related postsof his blog syndicated on the Science Fiction Channel’s new Stargate Universe site.Mallozzi admits that determining which posts are to be classified as Stargate orientated is a difficult challenge as many of his posts focus on other topics of personal interest while having a small part [usually Mallozzi's daily mailbag where he answers fan questions]dedicated towards Stargate.It was also conveyed that the approval process from Sci Fi for behind the scene pictures and stage photos of Stargate Universe will be quickened .While this will promote Mallozzi’sonline work and Universe,it should be noted that unlike the original blog, the Science Fiction Channel does not have a comment feature on posts and there is also no avenue to directly contact Mallozzi.Check out the syndicated blog today athttp://mt-showblogs.scifi.com/stargate/index.phpor visit the original blog at www.josephmallozzi.wordpress.com.

Actor Michael Shanks will the appear in the second half of Stargate Universe.Shanks, who played the main cast role of the archaeologist , Dr.Daniel Jackson in all ten seasons of Stargate SG1 will reoccur in the fourteenth episode of the Stargate Universe, titled Human.Shanks rolein the episode will be more significant than that in the series premiere, AirPart 1 in which he appeared for a cameo role.The episode will feature Daniel and Stargate Universe lead actor, Robert Carlyle character’s , Dr.Nicholas Rush working together.Human will debut during early 2010.We look forward to seeing Daniel have a significant role in the storyline of the episode.

Stargate Universe will receive an additional supplement which viewers of the previous Stargate series never had the pleasure of.The first season will be accompanied with 30 webepisodes.Each episode will have a direct association and revelance to the episodes produced for television.Episodes will be presented through the use of a Kino, a sphere shaped device which moves around the ship and spies on characters aboard in order to enhance the audience perspective of habitual lifestyle of the program’s characters.Residents of the USA are able to view episodes at the Science Fiction Channel’s Stargate Universe site at http://www.syfy.com/universe/ .Meanwhile, Canadians residents can view the episodes on Space Channel’s website. An entire production unit has been assigned the task of generating these two minute episodes.We look forward to this new installment within the Stargate franchise.

Stargate Universe will be available online for free of charge on Hulu.The episodes will appear on the site on the day subsequent to its debut on The Science Fiction Channel[USA] and The Space [Canada].As Hulu does with other current series which it streams , viewers will have the opportunity to view an episode for up to five weeks, after which point episodes will individually be replaced with a more recent one. Although Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis are now available for free on Hulu, the website did not stream the episodes in the same week as they made a first run broadcast.Readers should note that episodes at www.hulu.com can only be viewed by residents of the USA.Enjoy the show!

Actress Rhona Mitra has been casted for a guest role in thefinal three episodes of Stargate Universe’s inaugaral season.The three episode story arc includes the eighteenth episode, Submersion along with Incursion Part 1 amd the season finale, Incursion Part 2.Mitra will play the role of a character named Kiva, who is described as a strong willed leader of the Lucian alliance incursion force aboard the Destiny.Readers may recall that the Lucian Alliance is the alien species responsible for the attack on Icarus Base which caused those on the base to travel to the Destiny in the first place. SyFy also described the character of Kiva as an individual who “will do whatever it takes to safeguard her people even if it is at the ultimate expense of the Destiny crew.”Mitra is a 33 year old actress bornin London, England.She has played main cast roles in various series including The Practice and Boston Legal.Mitra’s recurring roles on television include appearances on series such as Gideon’s Crossing and Party of Five.We look forward toobserving the suspense and drama associated with the presence of Kiva’s incursion force on board the ancient Destiny.

Stargate Universe lead actor, Robert Carlyle has appeared in a recent episode in the CBS television program entitled The Late Late Show which was broadcasted on Wednesday , October 14 2009 .In the episode, Carlyle talked with the program’s host, Scotsman Craig Ferguson.Carlyle and Ferguson spent time discussing life in Scottland ,how Carlyle’s transtion to Canada went, and about the new Stargate Universe.The halarious segment has been posted directly below and lasts for about 8 minutes in length.Enjoy!

Stargate Universe main cast member , Alaina Huffman who plays the main cast role of the medic , Tamara Johansen revealed that she is pregnant during a recent interview with Australia’s Science Fiction Channel’s blog. Huffman later provided further details on Twitter indicating that she is currently seven and a half months into her pregnancy. With this announcement, many viewers have begun to wonder how the pregnancy will affect her character’s storyline and degree of involvement within the series, should the program be renewed for a second season . One possibility is that Johansen ’s pregnancy could be incorporated into the storyline of the series similar to the way in which Rachel Luthrell’s [Teyla Emmagan] pregnancy was incorporated into an ongoing storyline of Stargate Atlantis’ fourth and final fifth seasons .Another possibility is that the actor will play the character in a reduced capacity for a temporary period or take a leave of absence just as Stargate SG1 co star, Amanda Tapping [Colonel Samantha Carter]did for the first five episodes of the series ninth season .Readers should note that if Stargate Universe is renewed for a second season, the production for the show’s second year will commence February 2010 - only about 2 months after the actress’ delivery date . When asked how her pregnancy will impact of her character, Huffman simply stated that “You have to watch,”Huffman exclaimed happily “I think every actor on the Stargate franchise has had one or more kids. [The writers] know what they are doing, and they know how to deal with it. I can’t give away spoilers whether we are or are not going to entertain that possibility. You’ve just got to keep watching.

The actress, who is married with two children, also commented on how the Stargate Universe production was one which permitted actors to strike a career/personal life balance, communicating that the position offers felxible hours thanks to the ensemble nature of the cast.Huffman is therefore often able to spend time with her children and play a part in their daily routine by having the opportunity to atleast drop them to school if not also having the chance to pick them up.The actress also added her post allows her to still also have great deal of time in the year off.The complete first part of Huffman’s interview with the network , in which she also discusses her integration into her new post as playing the character of Tamara Johansen along with her interaction with colleagues can be viewed at http://www.scifitv.com.au/Blog/2009/10/alaina-huffman-on-skype-sgus-blonde-star-is-pregnant/. Enjoy!Best wishes are extended towards Huffman for a successful delivery.

Actress Alaina Huffman as the Destiny's medic, Tamara Johansen

Indeed actress Amanda Tapping will return to the screens as the astrophysicist, Colonel Samantha Carter one more time before the finalization of Stargate Universe’s inaugural season .The actress, of course, played the character as main cast role for all ten seasons of Stargate SG1 and in the fourth season of Stargate Atlantis.In a recent interview with The Huffingman post, Tapping indicated that she would guest star towards the end of the season. In the interview,Tapping briefly outlined her recent experience in shooting Stargate Univcerse communicating to the site that “I’ve done two episodes,” “I did their first two-parter and I’m at the very end of their season. And I just shot that a few weeks ago. So I started their season and I’m ending their season, which was very cool. But I didn’t get to play with anyone. If they were ever to have me come back, I’d want to be with people. I’m kind of off on my ship, which I think is awesome.Tapping’s previous appearance in Stargate Universe was in the series premiere , Air Part 1 in which Carter is the commander of of the new earth ship , Hmmond named after the character of the deceased actor, Don S Davis, General George Hammond.The complete interview can be viewed online at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jenna-busch/amanda-tapping-launches-c_b_350257.html. Readers should note that the exact episode in which Carter will be seen has yet to be revealed.Further details will be posted as they are obtained. We look forward to seeing Carter in Stargate Universe again and we anticipate that her latest appearance will be of a greater capacity than that of her appearance in the premeire of this exciting new series.

The first half of Stargate Universe’s first season will be released on DVD and Blu Ray on February 9 2010.SGU 1.0 currently has a suggested price of 49.98 dollars US amounting to a price of 59.98 for Canadian residents.Meannwhile the Bklu Ray edition will cost 69:99 [US]and 89:99 [Canada].The idea of splitting the first season into two halfves was done as aresult of the fact that there is a breakof four months between the mid season finale and the commencement of the second half of the season.Fans will therefore be able to have the chance to catch upon viewing the series .The first half of the season being released earlier on also benefits the promotional health of the series as allows foran increase in awareness of te program in the months leading up to the finalization of the break and into the second half of the inaugural season.Readers should also note that Stargate Universe’s first season is the first season ever, in the Stargate franchise, to be released on Blu Ray.The DVD edition will also include a variety of features such as actor/producer commentary on episodes, Kino Video Diaries, and the Stargate 101 Videos, which pertain to Dr.Danie’l Jackson’s explanation of the Stargate program to the unmotivated yet brilliant , Eli Wallace.Eli is seen viewing the explanation in the series premiere, Air Part 1.

A complete list of commentators for each of the episodes has been placed directly below, as seen on Gateworld.Visit Gateworld today at www.gateworld.net.

Stargate Universe has scored considerably solid, ratings for its 2 hour series premiere, Air Part 1 and Air Part 2 which debuted on October 2 2009.According to a report released by the Science Fiction Channel, the two hour premiere attracted over 2.35 million viewers equating to a 1.7 million average per household rating.The report communicates that 1.32 million of the viewers were in the 25-54 demographic while 1.12 million viewers were in the 18-49 age demographic.The 1.12 million rating for the latter age group was the biggest rating for that demographic for a Friday night series since the debut of the science fiction series, Battlestar Gallactica in January 2005.While the 1.7 million rating many not be as high as anticipated by both producers and many fans of the Stargate franchise, the Science Fiction Channnel remains very positive, indicating that the ratings have defined the Stargate Universe primiere as the Stargate Franchise's biggest premiere in four years[since the July 2005 debut of Stargate Atlantis' second season.]Accordingly,the cast and crew of Stargate Universe are congratulated for their exceptional work towards the series which has most definitely contributed to the accumulation of such a notable rating.

Indeed the final hour of the Stargate Universe premiere , Air Part 3 scored better than the previous week’s Air Part 1 and Air Part 2 , attracting a total of 2.4 million viewers to the screen.This equates to a rating of 1.8 million per household average. The 18-49 age group had a 22 percent increase in viewership than the first two parts of the premiere while the 25-49 demographic acheived a 13 percent increase. This is quite a notable rating as usually ratings begin to fall starting the week after a season/series debuts.This opposite reaction is a positive indicator of the growing interest towards this new exciting series.Senior VP of Syfy Digital , Craig Engler echos our reaction on this exceptional rating. “I can’t emphasize enough how impressive it is for a show to grow from its premiere,” Engler said. “That’s pretty rare.”This is indeed an outstanding result for which the Stargate Universe production is congratulated.

MGM has released a trailer for the second half of Stargate Universe’s inaugural season which is scheduled to begin on Friday, April 2 . The trailer includes parts from the conclusion to the mid season parter, Space which bring forth the series first intelligent alien species.Readers will also have opportunity to view actress Rhona Mitra as the Lucian Alliance leader, Kiva and obtain brief insight to an additional threat which will be present in the backhalf of the series’ freshman season.Be sure to take a look at the trailer directly below and share your thoughts on it in the comments segment further below.Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6HvUGXjNnc&feature=related]

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Next Time on SGU

Life-Lt. Scott and Camile return to Earth via the communication stones to spend time with those they left behind. On the Destiny, the crew explores new sections of the ship and discover a promising Ancient device.[TV Guide]

Justice-Col. Young cedes command to Camile Wray after a crew member is found dead from a gunshot wound and the gun is recovered from Young’s quarters. Meanwhile, a planet harbors a secret that threatens the Destiny in the first-season finale.

Promotions of Upcoming Episodes

Please note that promotions are kept for the duration in which they are relevant to only viewers of the ScienceFiction Channel[USA], Space Channel[Canada] and Sky One.

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SGU International Schedule Center

What time does SGU air in your country?

Episode Title

Episode#

Debut Date[Sy Fy-USA]

Time

Debut Date[Space-Canada]

Time

Debut Date[Sky One-UK]

Time

Debut Date[ Sci Fi Australia]

Time

Air Part 1

1

October 2 2009

9:00pm

October 2 2009

10:00pm

October 6 2009

8:00pm

October 92009

8:30pm

Air Part 2

2

October 2 2009

9:00pm

October 2 2009

10:00pm

October 6 2009

8:00pm

October 16 2009

8:30pm

Air Part 3

3

October 9 2009

9:00pm

October 9 2009

10:00pm

October 13 2009

8:00pm

October 23 2009

8:30pm

Darkness

4

October 16 2009

9:00pm

October 16 2009

10:00pm

October 20 2009

8:00pm

October 30 2009

8:30pm

Light

5

October 23 2009

9:00p,m

October 23 2009

10:00pm

October 27 2009

8:00pm

Nove,ber 6 2009

8:30pm

Water

6

October 30 2009′

9:00pm

October 30 2009

10:00pm

November 3 2009

8:00pm

November 13 2009

8:30pm

Earth

7

November 5 2009

9:00pm

November 5 2009

10:00pm

November 10 2009

8:00pm,

November 20 2009

8:30pm

Time

8

November 12 2009

9:00pm

November 12 2009

10:00pm

November 17 2009

8:00pm

November 27 2009

8:30pm

Life

9

November 19 2009

9:00pm

November 19 2009

10:00pm

November 24 2009

8:00pm

December 4 2009

8:30pm

Justice

10

December 4 2009

9:00pm

December 42009

10:00pm

December 8 2009

8:00pm

December 11 2009

8:30pm

Space

11

Divided

12

Faith

13

Lucid

14

Sabotage

15

Lost

16

Sabotage

17

Pain

18

Incursion Part 1

19

Incursion Part 2

20

All slots for The Science Fiction Channel and Space Channel have been noted in eastern standard time while timimgs for Sky One have been indicated in GMT time.Times for Australia’s Sci Fi station have been noted in Western time zone.Please note that schedule information for the latter half of the season is currently unavailable and the slots for episodes in the latter half of the season will remain blank until further information is obtained.

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Special Promotional Features

The Science Fiction Channel has released the complete Stargate Universe panel of the recent July 2009 Comic Con in San Diego.The panel features Stargatecreators, Robert C Cooper and Brad Wright, along with the entire main cast of the upcoming series!The feature has been placed directly below and is approximately47 minutes in length.Enjoy!

[clearspring_widget title="SyFy Video - Stargate: Universe - Comic-Con 2009 Panel" wid="48e10f5e9dbb50aa" pid="4a71f174229c00e1" width="400" height="400" domain="wgtclsp.syfy.com"]Stargate Universe lead actor, Robert Carlyle is doing his part to help promote Stargate Universe.The actor appeared on the UK morning program entitled This Morning.In the inteview Carlyle discusses being a science fiction fan, familiarzing himself with Stargate Universe , his mysterious and questionable character, Dr.Nicholas Rush on the new program, moving his household members to Vancouver in order to be close to the Stargate Universe productions at Bridge Studios , along with a variety of other subject matter.The interview is just over 9 minutes in duration and can be viewed directly below.Enjoy!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SehDu_j-6HM&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Egateworld%2Enet%2Fnews%2F2009%2F09%2Frobert%2Dcarlyle%2Dinterviewed%2Don%2Dthis%2Dmorning%2F&feature=player_embedded]Watch the Stargate Universe behind the scene video below which features the main cast members of the series informing you of where they would take the Stargate to if given the opportunity.The video is 2 and a half minutes in length.Enjoy!

[clearspring_widget title="SyFy Video - If You Could Take the 'Gate..." wid="48e10f5e9dbb50aa" pid="4ab3f907e557fb93" width="400" height="400" domain="widgets.nbc.com"]Discussion Center

Discussing Stargate Universe in a friendly online environment!

Attack on Icarus Base-Lucian Alliance

Dr. Rush’s claim of leadership

the kino’sfunction

long range communicator

Carter’s Cameo Appearance-The Hammond

Jack O’ Neill Appearance-role as head of security

Daniel Jackson Videos

-Chole Armstrong -father[senator's] sacrifice, use of long range communicator, interaction with mother and her reaction

basic premise and details[ trapped on ship, time limit before it jumps, air calcium carbonay the few individuals who left the planet-trapped forever because of Rush;s order to shoot individual with dialing remote

The end result in obtaining the calcium, Eli’s humourous yet risky situation of his hand

Remember that these are just recommended topics for discussion topics.You do not have to discuss them if you have no wish to.Just remember to follow our official discussion policy and keep your comment/discussion directly related to Stargate Universe.This will help ensure that all participants feel safe and enjoy themselves on the site!Now get commenting!

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UPDATE April 20 2011 – Producer, Brad Wright recently reported at a Vancouver convention that both Stargate Extinction as well as Stargate Revolution have been permanently shelved. The confirmation came at the same time when the announcement of the failure to secure an SGU movie, was also announced. Consequently, there is no aspect of the franchise which is expected to reappear in the foreseeable future. .A full report is to be posted shortly however readers can visit Gateworld for a full report .

Stargate Revolution[Third Stargate SG1 film]

A brand new Stargate SG1 movie has been approved by MGM studios.Filming for the feature length film was scheduled to initialize by fall 2009, however the film has been placed on hold due to the current economic crisis and due to the fact that MGM has claimed bankruptcy[ see further below for full details]. The film has been penned by Brad Wright and Carl Binder.It is still unclear if the film will first be shown on SyFy or if it will be initially released on DVD just like the previous two Stargate films, Stargate: Ark of Truth and Stargate Continuum .

The film is expected to revolve around Jack O’ Neill[Richard Dean Anderson]. During the Vancouver 2009 Convention, co creator of the film, Brad Wright specifically indicated that “I had a story idea that really worked with O’Neill. And it’s not just his character, by any means. It’s a Stargate story that brings O’Neill back in a big way.” Readers should note that the feature was initially expected to be released on DVD sometime between early spring to early summer of 2010.The storyline is expected to occur between the end of the previous Stargate SG1 film, Stargate Continuum and the commencement of the Stargate franchise’s third series, Stargate Universe.

Information on the film’s main cast is now available.Amanda Tapping has communicated that she will be appearing in the movie.Tapping played the brilliant astrophysicist, Samantha Carter in Stargate SG1 for all ten seasons. Michael Shanks has confirmed his involvement in the film as well.Shanks played the role of the archaeologist ,Dr.Daniel Jackson from seasons 1-5 and seasons 7-10 of Stargate SG1.Christopher Judge will be returning in the film as the Jaffa,Tealc whom Judge played during all seasons of Stargate SG1. However, actors have yet to be contacted for official negotiations.

Stargate Creator and Executive producer,Brad Wright has indicated on a Question and Answer session on executive producer, Joseph Mallozzi’s blog thatVala Maldurin[Claudia Black] will not be returning for the third Stargate SG1 movie saying that ” I thought Claudia [Black] was terrific in Continuum, but Vala won’t be returning in the third movie“.Wright also communicated that it will be highly unlikely to have the entire cast in the same movie. The reasoning/cause behind this limitation is with respects to availability among many other concerns .Our speculation is that the budget for future films is a contributing factor.Readers are encouraged to visit frequently as further developments occur.

Additional Details

While there is little information available regarding the storyline of the film, producer Joseph Mallozzi has advised readers on his blog that all of the earth ships could possibly be together in a space battle in Stargate Revolution.

Producer Joseph Mallozzi has revealed details regarding the main enemy in the film on his blog where he indicated that “Let’s just say the story stems from an issue that has plagued Stargate Command since its inception”.

Producer, Joseph Mallozzi recently advised readers on his blog that the film would give further insight as to whether the SGC remains in Cheyenne Mountain or if has been to Homeworld Command . The specific text which shows Mallozzi’s response has been placed below.

Q: Does the SGC still exist or is the Stargate being moved to Homeworld Command?

A” More on that in Stargate: Revolution.”

When asked on her personal opinion on the fate of the film in a recent interview with Gateworld , actress Amanda Tapping[ Colonel Samantha Carter] indicated that ” I’d do it. We had so much fun doing Continuum and Ark of Truth that I would do it, time permitting. But I think the window is closing, that’s for sure. That’s what it feels like. Had we shot it this past winter, that would have been a different thing. But I don’t know. Never say never”.

UPDATE-August 16 2009:The film has been placed on hold due to financial restraints associated with the current economic downturn, reports Sci Fi Wire.Please scroll further below for the complete details regarding this recent development.

UPDATE-November 12 2009- Producer Joseph Mallozzi revealed on his blog that the working title for the film is Stargate Revolution. Also, presently there is still no word from MGM stating if the feature will be produced.

UPDATE- April 5 2010:There is still no word on MGM’S decision with regards to the producing the film, according to producer,Joseph Mallozzi on today’s blog post. Further information will be posted as it is obtained.

UPDATE–June 17 2010-Stargate producer, Joseph Mallozzi recently advised readers on his blog that there has been positive rumblings regarding Stargate Revolution . According to Mallozzi, this progress is due to the great efforts from the creator of the film, Brad Wright who ”as the movie’s co-writer and producer, has been tireless in working to keep the project alive and in discussions”. Further information will be posted as it is obtained.

UPDATE – July 1 2010: Producer Joseph Mallozzi commented on the current prospects for the film on his blog , indicating that“despite the delay, the mood is fairly confident that Revolution will move into production eventually. It’s just a matter of when”.

UPDATE – September 15 2010- There is still no word on MGM’s decision with regards to approving the film. Further information will be provided as obtained.

UPDATE – September 29 2010-Producer, Brad Wright recently indicated in a interview with TV DeathRaythat there is still a realistic possibility that the Stargate Movies may be produced. Wright indicated that there is a another innovative business plan being discussed with MGM , which may help expedite the production of the film, despite the current economic downturn and MGM’s virtual bankruptcy. Please scroll further below for the full details.

Update- March 25 2011- There has been no further word on the fate of the film. Current efforts are still being devoted to reviving Stargate Universe either in the form of a movie or mini series.

Stargate:Extinction

[Working Title - Subject to Change]

Stargate Atlantis fans can look forward to a 2 hour movie which will premiere on the Science Fiction Channel for residents of the USA and will subsequently be released on DVD by MGM .The film was initially expected to be released sometime between spring – summer of 2010, however, it has now been placed on hold due to the current economic crisis and due to the fact that MGM has virtually claimed bankruptcy.It is unknown when filming for the feature will begin.

Creator of Stargate Atlantis , Brad Wright has expressed excitement in continuing the series in movie format while the series still has further potential.Wright added that he is looking forward to having Stargate Atlantis storylines told on a “bigger canvas”.Readers should note that the movie will not wrap up any long term storylines from the Stargate Atlantis TV series and will therefore be similar to Stargate Continuum in that it will be a stand alone movie.The feature, however, will involve characters referring to the past and acknowledging the potential of future adventures. .It should also be noted that future releases of Stargate Atlantis movies is solely reliant on the success of this first feature.

The film will start off in Earth, where the series finale, Enemy at the Gate left off. Viewers will, however, discover that Atlantis has relocated from San Fransisco Bay[where the city landed in the series finale]to another base.The script for the film has been written by both executive producers of the final two seasons of the Stargate Atlantis television series, Joseph Mallozzi [40 pages]and executive producer,Paul Mullie[60 pages].It has been communicated that Andy Mikita will direct the movie.Mikita has directed on both Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis including the Atlantis series finale.We have received confirmation that Sheppard, McKay, Teyla, Ronon, Woolsey, Keller, Zelenka, Lorne, Beckett, Chuck, Banks, Todd and 2 guest stars[to be announced] will reprise in the film.A potential guest star could be actress Amanda Tapping[Colonel Samantha Carter] who had discussed the possibility of appearing for a cameo role in the film with executive producer of the film, Joseph Mallozzi. Actors have yet to be contacted for official negotiations. As this news is still developing, readers are encouraged to visit frequently to observe the updates of this post

Additional Details

While there is very little information available on the storyline of the film at this time, Mallozzi has indicated that the film will have a Teyla -Beckett character moment.

It has also been communicated, that although Todd and his fellow Wraith will have a significant involvement in the movie, they will not be apart of the primary storyline of the film.

According to Joseph Mallozzi , the character of Elizabeth Weir has been completely dealt with.”Weir’s story ended in ‘Ghost In the Machine .’ The character will not be appearing in the movie”, said Mallozzi.

When he described the film on his blog, Mallozzi divulged what the plot will include. “We’ve got action, adventure, exploration, a race against the clock, Atlantis in peril, unlikely allies, surprises, tragic loss, and new beginnings.”Further information regarding the plot will be revealed as it is obtained.

When asked to divulge a general sense of the plot of the film, Mallozzi responded by indicating that “The action starts on Earth, then shifts to Atlantis, then shifts to a planet, then back to Atlantis.”[ August 19 2010 on his blog]

You know, please do ask for it because if it happens … I mean, I’d love it to happen. But as the years go by, it gets more and more difficult for that to happen because we’re all off in different directions. I mean Jason [Momoa] is Conan, for God’s sake![ Actor, David Hewlett on a recent interview with Gateworld]

I have heard nothing of any intention or any momentum towards an Atlantis film. Our lovely set no longer exists. But who knows, stranger things have happened. I would love to get a chance to work with my buddies again”.[ Rachel Luttrell on a Q&A with ScifiTVAndTalk]

UPDATE:On May 16 2009 Joseph Mallozzi revealed on Twitter that the working title for the Atlantis film is Stargate Extinction.Mallozzi indicated he likes the title because it is appropriate to the storyline and it is dynamic.

Update-August 16 2009:The film has been placed on hold due to financial restraints associated with the current economic downturn.Keep scrolling for further details.

UPDATE – April 5 2010- There is still no word on MGM’S decision with regards to producing the film. When he was asked about the status of the film on his blog today , producer Joseph Mallozzi simply indicated that ” Still no word and I don’t expect to hear anything either way for a while”.Further information will be posted as it is obtained.

UPDATE – July 1 2010-Executive producer of the film, Joseph Mallozzi responded to a query on his blog regarding the future of the film and how a lack of discussion between the producers and MGM, would affect its fate in contrast to the much discussed, Stargate Revolution .Mallozzi indicated there is “no news on the Atlantis movie front. That’s not to say it won’t get made, just that Paul and I have not had similar discussion with the studio with regard to Extinction”.

UPDATE -July 18 2010- Producer, Joseph Mallozzi reported on his blog. that two cast members from Stargate Atlantis will be guest starring in their respective roles for the fifteenth episode of the upcoming second season of Stargate Universe entitled, Seizure.Although the reappearances will require adjustment to the timeline of Stargate Extinction, Mallozzi, indicated that the heart of the film will remain unchanged . Scroll further below for the full details.

UPDATE – September 15 2010- There is still no word on MGM’s decision with regards to approving the film. Further information will be provided as obtained.

UPDATE – September 29 2010-Producer, Brad Wright recently indicated in a interview with TV DeathRaythat there is still a realistic possibility that the Stargate Movies may be produced. Wright indicated that there is a another innovative business plan being discussed with MGM , which may help expedite the production of the films, despite the current economic downturn and MGM’s virtual bankruptcy. Please scroll further below for the full details.

UPDATE – December 25 2010-Stargate producer, Joseph Mallozzi,indicated the following when asked for an update to the film, now that Stargate Universe has been cancelled. Mallozzi,specifically indicated that ” I’m sorry to say but the cancellation puts the brakes on whatever progress the SGA movie had made in the past month, shelving it indefinitely.

Update- March 25 2011- There has been no further word on the fate of the film. Current efforts are still being devoted to reviving Stargate Universe either in the form of a movie or mini series.

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August 16 2009- Stargate Films Delayed

Due to the current economic downturn, the third Stargate SG1 film and the first Stargate Atlantis movie titled Stargate Extinction have been placed on hold, reports Sci Fi Wire.Stargate Co creator, Robert C Cooper explained in a recent interview, the concerns expressed from both the producers and MGM studios which caused this delay.

We’re ready to go,” Cooper said in an exclusive interview over the weekend in Pasadena, Calif., where he was promoting SGU at the Television Critics Association summer press tour. “We’re just waiting for the right opportunity,” he said. “We want to be successful with it. The studio wants to be successful, and we really don’t want to proceed with something in the wrong climate, which I think financially it is right now.”

Although two straight to DVD films, Stargate;The Ark of Truth and Stargate Continuum were released just in March 2008 and July 2008, respectively, Cooper indicated that the current economic crisis has reduced the sales of DVD premieres .

“It’s tough, because we were very successful with the first two SG-1 movies,” Cooper said. “Since then, the economics have changed a little bit. DVDs aren’t selling the same way they were when we released those even just a year, and a year and a half ago.”

Readers should note that prospects for the eventual production of Stargate Extinction are optimistic as MGM is still paying rent for the Atlantis studio which consequently remains standing.The Cheyenne Mountain stage of Stargate SG1 has been remade to suit the environment of the upcoming Stargate Universe.It has , however, been communicated by executive producer of Stargate Extinction and consulting producer of Stargate Universe, Joseph Mallozzi that the stage can be remade for the production of the third SG1 film.

As a result of the delay in production, a release date cannot be indicated at this time.It is anticipated that the production for the films will initialize the foreseeable future.Best of luck is extended to the Stargate productions during this difficult time.

UPDATE – It should be noted that the set for Stargate Extinction [ Atlantis] has since been removed.Further details will be provided as they are obtained.

July 18 2010- SGU/ SGA Crossover Finalized

Producer, Joseph Mallozzi revealed on his blog that two cast members from Stargate Atlantis will guest star in their respective roles in a crossover for the 15th episode of Stargate Universe’s second season entitled, Seizure. There is no word yet on exactly which characters will be reappearing.

As a result of these appearances, Mallozzi indicated that slight changes will be made to the script of he impending Stargate Atlantis film, Stargate Extinction. ““There was a reluctance to move ahead with an SGA crossover, particularly on my part,” Mallozzi said, “because the feeling was it would step on the timing of the SGA movie, Stargate: Extinction, the events of which directly [followed] the Atlantis series finale, ‘Enemy At the Gate .’But given the delay on the movie front and the idea premise pitched out by Remi Aubuchon and Brad Wright, it was decided to go ahead with the crossover. Not a big deal, but it will require some changes to the Stargate: Extinction timeline which, in turn, will beg a host of questions, some of which will be answered in episode #15, some of which won’t … at least not right away.” To see a list of these hosts of questions, head over to Mallozzi’s blog.

Mallozzi has since repeatedly asserted that the involvement of Atlantis characters will not affect the core conflict of the film. He specifically indicated that “The changes made to the script will have to do with the timing of events (essentially the set-up) and won’t influence the heart of the story”. Essentially, the appearances will help provide certain details regarding the aftermath of the series finale of Stargate Atlantis, Enemy At the Gate which will in turn require the script to be altered in a way so that such details are not repeatedly conveyed and that the storyline remains true to the timeline. Having the Stargate Extinction storyline occur after the appearances on Stargate Universe would therefore not contradict with any of the circumstances or situations surrounding the characters’ appearances in the series and the situation on Atlantis as the film would take place afterwards.

We look forward to seeing the Atlantis cast members reprise in their roles in Stargate Universe and we strongly hope that we will eventually have the opportunity to revisit the characters of Atlantis in Stargate Extinction.

UPDATE - It was revealed in the San Diego Comic Con that the two Atlantis guest stars scheduled to appear in the fifteenth episode of Stargate Universe’s second season, Seizure are David Hewlett and Robert Picardo who will reprise in their roles as Dr. Rodney McKay and Richard Woolsey respectively. A further overview will be posted shortly.

September 29 2010-Producer, Brad Wright recently indicated in a interview with TV DeathRay that there is still a realistic possibility that the Stargate Movies may be produced. Wright added that there is a another innovative business plan being discussed with MGM , which may help expedite the production of the films, despite the current economic downturn and MGM’s negative financial situation

During the interview,Wright specifically stated the following in regards to the Stargate Movies.

“The only thing that is blocking the SG-1 movie or the Atlantis movie, the only thing, is the fact that the direct-to-DVD market has gone away. We were very fortunate with Ark of Truth and Continuum to be among the last very successful direct-to-DVD releases before it all stopped happening. The market has change, and it’s still changing, and it’s not what it was. And, of course, there have been very big changes at MGM that kind of added to that. But we had the intentions to make them. We were ready to go, and it was “Wait a while” and “We should wait a little longer,” and the climate never got better. We held on to a lot of stuff and were ready to go for a very long time, but that doesn’t mean it’s not gonna happen. We have a plan B, and I’ve been talking with MGM about it, and hopefully we’ll still get our chance.”

For a complete read of the interview, in which Wright also discusses the second season of Stargate Universe and the SGU/ SGA crossover with Robert Picardo and David Hewlett, please visit TV DeathRay.

Indeed , we strongly anticipate that this alternate business approach will succeed and as a result both Stargate Revolution and Stargate Extinction will enter production.

Indeed the Stargate producing Studio of MGM has officially filed for bankruptcy in New York on Wednesday, November 3 2010.This was filed due to a great deal of approval in turning over management of the company to MGM’s debt holders.

According to MGM, the matter will now be taken under consideration in the courts. A response to this proposal is expected within the coming month.This new arrangement allows for the debt holders, whom MGM owes $4 billion to, to have control of 95% of the studio. The remaining 5% will go to

Spyglass Entertaintments and its associated subsidiaries.Spyglass chiefs, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, would now act as co chief officers for MGM.

This news is crucial for the development of the Stargate movies as MGM indicated its commitment towards a new set of films and television series as it would raise 500 million dollars in new capital after emerging from chapter 11assets which will be devoted to such areas. Te long awaited Stargate films, Stargate Extinction and Stargate Revolution, now have a likelier chance of being produced. However, there is no guarantee in regards to the fate of the films, as the studio needs to determine that whether the Stargate movies be profitable for the company to produce them and which method of distribution would be the most effective, should they decide to do so.

For a complete report on MGM’s current situation, head over to the Hollywood Reporter at http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/mgm-starts-pre-packaged-chapter-11-cases/

What are your thoughts on this plan and do you think the Stargate movies will be considered profitable by the new management?Discuss in the comments section.

UPDATE-December 17 2010- Please note that this plan was approved by the courts on December 2 2010 . As a result, MGM is now being restructured, under the leadership of SpyGlass.The company is expected to announce its approval on various films in the upcoming period.Once this has been announced, the fate of the Stargate films will also be known.Further information will be posted as soon as it is released.For the full details on the approval, visit The Money Times at http://www.themoneytimes.com/20101203/court-approves-mgm-reorganization-plan-id-10143790.html.

Stargate Movies Timeline

Take a look at how the appearances of the Atlantis Alumni will alter the timeline for the Stargate Movies as verified by producer, Joseph Mallozzi on his blog.

1. Stargate Atlantis “Enemy at the Gate”

2. Stargate: Revolution

3. Stargate Universe “Seasons 1 and 2″

4. Stargate: Extinction

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Discussion Centre

Discussing Stargate Features in a Friendly Online Environment!

General Movie Discussion

Opinions/thoughts regarding the delay of impending Stargate Movies.Do you still think that either or both of the movies will be produced?Discuss.

What are your thoughts on plan B? Do you have any insights on what this business plan could be? Does the potential plan B help to renew or revive a sense of hope for you in the ultimate production of the films? Discuss.

How do you think the cancellation of Stargate Universe will impact the fate of the Stargate films?

Stargate Revolution

What do you think is the significance of the title? Speculate

What are your thoughts and predictions about the plot of the movie?

Who do you think the big enemy , which has been present since the inception of Stargate Command ,will be in the film?

O Neill Centric - What are your opinions on this and how do you think the character will be brought back in a big way? What are your thoughts on having such a film?

Who else other than the original team, would you like to see apart of the film?

Stargate Extinction

What do you think is the significance of the title?Speculate.

Character relationships .Discuss which relationships you would like to see touched upon in the film

What are your speculations and thoughts on the tragedy?Could the film bring forth the end of one of the main characters? Who? Speculate.

Do you have any possible thoughts of possible storylines which could correspond to the stand alone theme of the film? What are your thoughts on having a stand alone theme movie as opposed to having the film wrap up long term storylines from the Stargate Atlantis television series?

What questions would you like answered before Stargate Extinction , in the fifteenth episode of Stargate Universe, Seizure? Why?

What are your thoughts on the timeline adjustment for the film ?Discuss how the appearances of Rodney McKay[ David Hewlett] and Richard Woolsey[Robert Picardo] on SGU , will have towards the film as whole.

Previous Stargate Films

Stargate Ark of Truth and Stargate:Continuum:Rate , recap, review and discuss these two films.

Rerun dates for films – post it in the comments section or if you wish to have it published on this post, please inform us at blogmanagement@ymail.com. Be sure to include film name, country,channel, time and a reference which verifies the slot.

What is your favorite Stargate film to date? Why?

Remember these are just suggested topics .You can discuss any topic related to the Stargate Movies in the comments section below!Just remember to follow our Discussion Policy so everyone feels safe and enjoys themselves here.Get commenting!